Memorable moments of the Oscars

From unexpected pashes to one-handed push-ups; dancing on chairs to streakers ... the Oscars has seen it all in its 82-year history.

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Full coverage of this year's Oscars will be live on Stuff.co.nz from midday today.

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With nearly 60 million viewers tuning in to watch the entertainment world's biggest event, producers will be sweating it out again today. So with that in mind, Stuff.co.nz delivers its own awards for the most memorable moments at the Academy Awards.

ON STAGE:

1.) Oscar fans are still shaking their heads over the infamous opening of the 1981 show which included Merv Griffin singing I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts! amid an onstage re-creation of a coconut grove nightclub. It also featured a high-pitched Snow White boogalooing with Rob Lowe to the tune of Proud Mary.

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Producer Allan Carr was reportedly trying to reinvent the show but, in an open letter, 17 prominent Hollywood figures, including past Academy president Gregory Peck, proclaimed the ceremony "an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion picture industry".

2.) Halle Berry and Adrien Brody. It's hard to know who should get this? Berry for bravely carrying on after Brody stuck his tongue down her throat, or the Best Actor winner for having the gall to place one on her in the first place and then remarking: "I bet they didn't tell you that was in the gift bag".

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3.) Joan Crawford showed her competitive streak in 1963 when she collected an awarded she hadn't even won. Crawford co-stared with Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. After Davis was nominated for Best Actress, Crawford reportedly wrote to each of the other nominees and offered to accept the award if they were not able to attend.

When fellow nominee Anne Bancroft - who was not at the event - won, Crawford strode-up to the stage to collect the award.

4.) A naked man shocked onlookers when he streaked across the stage during the 46th Annual Oscars ceremony. Host David Niven soon reclaimed the show, however, responding: "Isn't it fascinating to think, that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life, is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?"

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5.) Marlon Brando also raised eyebrows in 1973 when he won Best Actor for the The Godfather. Brando snubbed the awards and instead sent a woman called Sacheen Littlefeather up on stage. To mostly booing and a few cheers she told the audience Brando was refusing the award in protest against the treatment of American Indians in the film industry.

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6.) Tears, tears and more tears. This award jointly goes to actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Halle Berry who have both blubbered their way through award acceptance speeches.

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7.) Jack Palance for his one-armed push-up performance after receiving Best Actor in 1991 for City Slickers. He poked fun at Hollywood's obsession with nimble, young actors by hitting the floor and displaying his fitness prowess.

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8.) Roberto Benigni's dance across the furniture and audience after winning Best Actor for Life is Beautiful.

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His enthusiasm at winning can't be beaten, though Cuba Gooding Junior comes a close second after he went head-to-head with the Oscar music which is played when its time for an actor to exit the stage.

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9.) Our own Anna Paquin gets a nomination for winning an Oscar at the tender age of 11.

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She was the second youngest to win, however, with Tatum O'Neal, then age 10, winning Best Supporting Actress in 1974 for Paper Moon.

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10.) Mike Moore gets an award for his politically charged acceptance speech which, while initially welcomed by the audience, in the end led to him being virtually booed off stage for his final harsh words against then US president George Bush which included, "We are against this war Mr Bush, shame on you Mr Bush, shame on you ... Anytime you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up."

- with Reuters

- © Fairfax NZ News